The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-10-28
A FOREST ADVENTURE.

The duties OF a pilot on a small
steamer that plies up and down a
deep, muddy stream between two
cities, about n hundred miles apart,
are not always OF the pleasantest ma
ture. The sumptuous pilot-houses on
our modern fe%rry-boats and great
sound steamers do not give the faint
est suggestion OF the narrow, two.by-
two, plank platform that vas former
ly used as q standing place for the
pilots OF the river steamers.
In these early days OF steamboat
pioneering the elements OF luxury and
comfort seldom entered into the cap.
tain's considerations when he COLI
tracted to make SO many trips per
week for q CERTAIN stipulated sum-.
The boat-builders, too, were strangely
averse to anything that appeared
like comfort or luxury to the passen-
gers. and they economical material as
we'll as time in constructing their
skeletons OF the modern river steam.
erS.
it was my fortune, as it turned out,
to he compelled to stand on one OF
OF these small platform pilot-houses
for sixteen hours out OF the twenty
four every day for over three years.
The steamer was small and of weak
construction h,,t WHEN a f,,l1 had If
steam VAS put on she would cut
through the foaming water with nerv-
u jumps, rattling the machinery and
shaking the side-plaoks until they
threatened to.fy apart.
The northern limit of our Journey
was marked by a small village, situat-
ed or the very banks OF the river, and
forming the commercial seaport for
about halfadozen similar smalltowns.
The width OF the stream at this point
vas about seventy-five feet, and it
vas very shallow. Both banks for
miles down the river were lined with
thick woods, and the branches grew
so far across the wateEAhat in many
places the boughs on the opposite
sides interlaced with each other and
formed q natural archway, through
which We were compelled to sail. On
dark nights the gloom was intense,
and it required a strong headlight to
dispel the shadows sufficiently for US
to guide u small craft through the
water. Here and there great logs, or
fallen trees, nearly blocked up the
way. and made the journey doubly
dangerous.
One dark night, in the fall OF the
year, we were proceeding up the river,
as usual, when a strange adventure
happened to us. The night was one OF
those itfully cloudy ones, which
is lighted up occasionally by
the moon emerging from a bank
of clouds aud then disappearing
again. We had q slow head of
steam on, and the tug was putting along
leisurely. making perhaps about a half
rate OF speed. My familiarity with
the river enabled me to guide the boat
along with comparative ease, while l
listened to the chorus OF wild animals,
which were making the woods resound
with their cries. Occasionally the
green CLEAN OF an eye could be seen
watching u from the shore. Now and
then a heavy splash in the water init.
mated that some ferocious beast had
come down to battle, or had started
in pursuit OF our floating home.
Tha 6arE hon1a wapt oo1oar ou tha
night advanced, and l was lett alone
with my thoughts. We were gliding
under one OF the leafy arches that ex-
tended across the river, when l was
aroused by a series of wild screams
at once knew that the cry CAMERON
q human being, and not from a wild
animal. Spoking the wheel, | seized
the rifle that stood by my side and
prepared myself for whatever might
turn up.
For Il few moments there was entire
silence in the woods, the birds and
animals having been frightened into
quiet by the strange cry OF a human
voice. Then, without warning, there
WAS q noise in the leaves overhead,
and before l could place my rife to
my shoulder, the form OF u human be-
ing dropped heavily to the deck OF the
steamer. 1t fell in a small heap right
near the stern OF the boat, where it
remained motionless, as if crushed to
death by the fall.
The tumult had by this time start
led the deck hands from their sleep,
and with one impulse we started in O.
body toward strange visitor.
Fur the love of God, %fellers, help
me up, an take pity on a poor on.
fortinit. Tibet old limb pitched me
harder n ! calkerlated. an it's nigh
onto broken me all up. Ell it had MT
saved my life I'd cum back here some
day, an cut it off, an pitch it into
the river. jes for spite. But tibet crit
ter did MT get me. arter all. an we ies'
bet she's in 'em bushes nowa-gnashin'
her teeth"
We remained silent during the out
burst. The man was evidently hurt,
though not SO much but he could en-
Joy the fact that he a safe. l knelt
down by his side, and asked him if he
needed assistance; but he rose to his
feet without difficulty, saying:
no; | Amt SO bad off as / thought
j The fact is, pards,I was kinder
stunned and frightened more n any
thing else. Fl ye'd been a-walkin'
roun' an roun' these ERE woods for
nigh onto two days. gettin' nothin' to
eat 'cept what We could pick up in the
woods, an fishtin' these wild critters,
yed be somewhat knocked up in q
heap, These ere woods amt no play
things. an it don't do to get lost into
EN-
Lest were your" we asked.
.Yes, lost, an without much hope
of ever tindin' my way out ag'in. Ye
see. the fact is, strangers, ] was out
a.huntin' with a party OF f%ellers, an
in chasin' n wild deer we got separat.
ed in the woods. an afore / knew l
~ clean off my bearin's. / wander
sgedIroun' an roun' fur hours, yellin' an
yelin'iur help, but nothin heard me